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( L) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. LOWDEN.

METHOD OF CUTTING DESIGNS ON THE PAGE OF FABRICS- No. 403,682. Patented May 21 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. LOWDEN.

METHOD OF CUTTING DESIGNS on THE PAGE OF FABRICS.

No. 403,682. Patented May 21 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LOIVDEN, OF LEEDS, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

METHOD OF CUTTING DESIGNS ON THE FACE OF FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,682, dated May 21, 1889.

Application filed September 20, 1888. Serial No. 285,891. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH LOWDEN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Leeds, in the county of York, England, have invented certain Improvements in the Method of Cutting Designs on the Faces of Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the production of designs upon fabrics used in upholstering, wearingapparel, and the like. Hitherto designs upon fabrics have been produced by embossing, weaving, or cutting. In the case of embossing, the pile fabric is subject to pressure, and under certain conditions the pile resumes its former position In the case of weaving, the cost is considerable, as it involves the production of the fabric in Jacquard looms. In the case of cutting, the designs are of a very limited eharacterthat is to say, straight lines or serpentine. The fabric is woven in the ordinary manner, having a plain surface, and upon it, and by my improvement, I can produce almost any conceivable design and in such a manner that it is of a farmore durable character and less costly than designs produced by embossing.

I carry my invention into effect by form ing the design to be cut 011 the fabric upon any flexible material in has-relief, which may be produced, for example, in the following manner: By first tracing the design upon an endless web-say, of cotton or other material-and stitching the same with a raised stitch,or stitching onto the tracery of the design a cord or round or flat braid.

The fabric upon which it is desired to cut the design is passed through the cutting-ma chine on the top of the design in bas-relief, and subjected to the cutting operation in an ordinary cutting-machine with the following advantages: The design in has-relief raises the surface of the fabric, and the surface projecting to the configuration of the design is cut away, and thus may be produced almost all manner of designs upon the surface of any fabric.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a transverse section through an ordinary cutting-machine with my improvements attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus, the center portion of the machine being cut away. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the means employed for regulating the height of the pattern-cylinder for the purpose of stretching the endless web upon which the design is formed. Fig. 4 is a crosssection through the cutting-knife and bed, and Figs. 5 and 6 details showing the mode of driving the cylinders.

Upon the end frames, A, of an ordinary cutting-machine I secure brackets B and mount therein a cylinder, 0, the axis of the same at each end of the cylinder carrying one end of a plate, B, on which is mounted an addi tional cylinder, 0', the same being driven by gears from E or other convenient shaft of the machine, the opposite end of each plate B being supported by a screw and links, S, by the regulation of which the height of the additional cylinder 0 may be adjusted to suit the length of the endless web J, upon which the design is formed.

The revolving spiral knife G is driven inthe usual manner, and the cutting-blade G is of the ordinary construction; but the bed H of the machine is formed stronger and of a different section, being curved on each side and terminating at the top with a curved narrow edge. The bed II is bolted to the lugs II, so that it may be easily removed from the end frames, A, in order to pass over it an endless flexible web, J, upon which a design is formed in bas-relief by stitching, as before described.

The circumference of the additional cylinder 0' is of the same surface speed as the circumference of the card-covered cylinder 0, and the fabric K to be cut maybe conducted over a front bar, L, under another bar, L, and behind the circular brush M to the bed H, where it joins the endless Web J, passing over the bed II in a stretched condition when the design in bas relief on the endless web raises portions of the fabric K to the configuration of the said design, the raised portions being cut off by the rotating spiral knife G and the stationary cutting-blade G in the same manner as when the fabric is passed between a common bed and the cutting-instruments, the rotating card-covered cylinder C fabric upon an endless belt on which the design is first produced in bas-relief-by a cord 15 or braid and then subjecting said fabric to the action of acutting-niachine, substantially as described. a

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

JOSH. LOWDEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN WAUGH, J NO. GILL. 

